A lightbulb moment for a chemical venture
Donation protected
Here is my story why I am determined to bring a chemical venture.
I was born in Hong Kong and my parents divorced when I was 7 years old. My mother raised my sister and I by herself since then, she brought us to the U.S.A. when I was 13 years old. I have a younger sister so my mother would depend on me to help her day in and day out, from taking care of my sister to translating English for many daily errands. When I was in high school, I bought M&Ms and chocolate bars from Walgreens when they are on sale and sell it back to my classmates for a profit. When I go to college, I had to work over 20 hours a week in a restaurant or somewhere to pay bills and rent. Because engineering is too tough, I cannot spend too much time working in a restaurant and bring an exhausted mind to study the rest of the night. At one point, I had to start a one-stop online shop on Instagram in 2013 selling only Abercrombie and Hollister back to Hong Kong while attending the Engineering college of SJSU.
In 2016, I received a B.S. Chemical Engineering from SJSU. Life is not easy. Given my disadvantage as a first generation going to college and an immigrant, my early career path was stumbling. With a B.S. degree, my first technical job was paid in the minimum wage. This is the turning point I decided to continue my Master degree. In my second position, I strived to move into R&D from the Manufacturing department, but the situation was not stable and I got laid off. I realized many companies exist for money. I asked myself what is my passion and what should I do?
I know I loved Chemistry and Chemical Engineering because I care about how to be nice to our Earth. That's why I have never give up and I am always delighted when I am around the lab. Then, I started to contemplate what am I good at? I probably did not have the legacy other children had because their parents were working in tech companies. But I know I can do business that I can bring values to others. Then, I continued with my Master degree and took a MIT Entrepreneurship certificate to learn more about what other people are doing outside of SJSU. After, I applied a Startup Grind Chapter to SJSU because if I don't have a team yet, I want to do something that can continue to educate myself while meeting the right opportunity along the way.
About two weeks ago, I read a Chemical Venture Conference newsletter in my Inbox. Wow, it is my thing. I want to go take a look and figure out further what I need to take to build a chemical venture. I believe the knowledge in Chemical Engineering is essential to develop a business model that can solve a problem quickly and provide a solution faster than traditional consulting. I want a venture that is not about just making money. One person doesn't need an enormous amount of money to live. This venture should be 1) ethical in making the decision, 2) caring in developing employees' life balance and financial growth and 3) returning investment back to the community.
My Chemical Engineering research advisor, Dr. Liat Rosenfeld, from SJSU supports my passion and she is willing to be part of this venture journey. I hope you can support my early stage of this goal.
If you would like to contribute or refer someone to me, here is the cost breakdown:
1. $93 admission fee + $300 air ticket + $0 one night of hotel stay = $393.00 (updated 3/28)
3/28 1 night of hotel stay is rewarded by a friend with her mileage. The cost has reduced.
(I am covering the AICHE membership $50 myself).
If you would like to give me any suggestion for improvement, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your time reading my story. Any support is deeply appreciated. Thank you very much in advance. I would like to answer any question.
I was born in Hong Kong and my parents divorced when I was 7 years old. My mother raised my sister and I by herself since then, she brought us to the U.S.A. when I was 13 years old. I have a younger sister so my mother would depend on me to help her day in and day out, from taking care of my sister to translating English for many daily errands. When I was in high school, I bought M&Ms and chocolate bars from Walgreens when they are on sale and sell it back to my classmates for a profit. When I go to college, I had to work over 20 hours a week in a restaurant or somewhere to pay bills and rent. Because engineering is too tough, I cannot spend too much time working in a restaurant and bring an exhausted mind to study the rest of the night. At one point, I had to start a one-stop online shop on Instagram in 2013 selling only Abercrombie and Hollister back to Hong Kong while attending the Engineering college of SJSU.
In 2016, I received a B.S. Chemical Engineering from SJSU. Life is not easy. Given my disadvantage as a first generation going to college and an immigrant, my early career path was stumbling. With a B.S. degree, my first technical job was paid in the minimum wage. This is the turning point I decided to continue my Master degree. In my second position, I strived to move into R&D from the Manufacturing department, but the situation was not stable and I got laid off. I realized many companies exist for money. I asked myself what is my passion and what should I do?
I know I loved Chemistry and Chemical Engineering because I care about how to be nice to our Earth. That's why I have never give up and I am always delighted when I am around the lab. Then, I started to contemplate what am I good at? I probably did not have the legacy other children had because their parents were working in tech companies. But I know I can do business that I can bring values to others. Then, I continued with my Master degree and took a MIT Entrepreneurship certificate to learn more about what other people are doing outside of SJSU. After, I applied a Startup Grind Chapter to SJSU because if I don't have a team yet, I want to do something that can continue to educate myself while meeting the right opportunity along the way.
About two weeks ago, I read a Chemical Venture Conference newsletter in my Inbox. Wow, it is my thing. I want to go take a look and figure out further what I need to take to build a chemical venture. I believe the knowledge in Chemical Engineering is essential to develop a business model that can solve a problem quickly and provide a solution faster than traditional consulting. I want a venture that is not about just making money. One person doesn't need an enormous amount of money to live. This venture should be 1) ethical in making the decision, 2) caring in developing employees' life balance and financial growth and 3) returning investment back to the community.
My Chemical Engineering research advisor, Dr. Liat Rosenfeld, from SJSU supports my passion and she is willing to be part of this venture journey. I hope you can support my early stage of this goal.
If you would like to contribute or refer someone to me, here is the cost breakdown:
1. $93 admission fee + $300 air ticket + $0 one night of hotel stay = $393.00 (updated 3/28)
3/28 1 night of hotel stay is rewarded by a friend with her mileage. The cost has reduced.
(I am covering the AICHE membership $50 myself).
If you would like to give me any suggestion for improvement, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your time reading my story. Any support is deeply appreciated. Thank you very much in advance. I would like to answer any question.
Organizer
Kennis Ko
Organizer
Fremont, CA
